I hate that everything now is a subscription service instead of buying it and do whatever you want.

  • Programmer Belch
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    4511 months ago

    Software updates for what? New ways to wash your clothes? I only use like two or three settings in mine

          • Pleb
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            1211 months ago

            Well, if your washing machine was connected to the internet you would also need security updates. Of course the only reason you’d connect your washing machine to the internet would be in order to get said security updates in the first place.

            Great job creating a need by developing the fix for it in the first place.

            • @joenforcer@lemmy.world
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              111 months ago

              Alerts for when the washer finishes its cycle. Reminders on when to do a tub clean. More detail when certain errors or anomalies are detected. Additional wash cycles for special load/fabric types that don’t fit on the dial.I have used the internet connection on my washer for all of these things and it has been very useful.

              • Lemon
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                1411 months ago

                My magical washing machine somehow knows how to do those things without an internet connection.

          • @_wampa__stompa@lemmy.world
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            911 months ago

            Potentially more serious than that. A poorly protected washing machine (or any other IOT device) can serve as an attack vector into your local network.

            • @UID_Zero@infosec.pub
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              1111 months ago

              You’re not wrong, but why the hell does a washing machine need to be Internet connected in the first place?

              And since the first answer is always “So it can tell me when the cycle is done,” set a frickin timer if it’s that big of a deal.

              • @electrogamerman@lemmy.world
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                211 months ago

                I think maybe to turn in on remotely. Lets say you leave to work in the morning and you want to have your clothes washed and/or dried when you arrive from work, then you can turn it on remotely, but its still stupid

                • @UID_Zero@infosec.pub
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                  311 months ago

                  My washer has a delay timer on it. Is that not a common option?

                  I also have an option to start a small fan and spin the drum every few minutes, so it keeps wet clothes from getting mildewy. I use that every time, so I don’t have nasty clothes when I inevitably forget to swap stuff into the dryer.

    • @Clocksstriking13@lemm.ee
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      911 months ago

      I think it’s for “smart” washing machines that you can control from your phone etc. So that’s likely what the “updates” would be related too…why you’d need to control your washing machine from afar is beyond me but some people love smart gadgets and will by anything that connects to their phone.

      • @thecodemonk@programming.dev
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        711 months ago

        I hate the make everything a smart appliance trend… Grills, washers and dryers, dishwashers, coffee machines… WHY? No one needs this shit.

      • @mayo@lemmy.world
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        611 months ago

        There are cases for it, eg programming a wash to occur when energy demand is low.

        In my opinion we should be pursuing technologies to do this that don’t require an internet connection. Even being able to program a schedule into the machine and it can detect if something is in there or not. That would be enough since energy usage follows a relatively consistent plot. These companies don’t give a shit about anything other than coming up with ways to make more money.

        • @Gork@lemm.ee
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          911 months ago

          The cost of the laundry subscription is likely to vastly out cost the energy savings it may provide.

          • @mayo@lemmy.world
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            211 months ago

            Ya it’s a shit idea to go subscription in any situation. You really do not need any kind of ongoing updates/subscription unless the product was built around a subscription model. If it can done mechanically on basic programmable outlets then it can be coded the same way. I would be fine buying a laundry machine, asking my utilities provider what time to run it, and then programming that into the machine manually.